Unlock your Neighborhood!

Posted by Romio on August 01, 2011
NYC Neighborhoods / No Comments

Hey guys! It’s time again to tell you what’s going on in the race to unlock New York neighborhoods. In case you forgot, or were too busy trying to figure out how to use your Google+ account, when you get 50 people to sign up for Romio, your neighborhood will become unlocked.

This week, the winning neighborhood is SoHo (again) with 32%. (Guess people get lonely in those vast open lofts.)

In a respectable second place, with 28%, is Alphabet city.

Coming up close with, 26% is Chelsea.

A new addition to our top 5 list, Williamsburg, because people with giant beards need to talk about their neighborhood too!

And Astoria, again, now demoted to last place, with 20% (womp, womp)

Come on guys and gals, you can do it. Some of these neighborhoods are so close, and you only need 50 people.

There are also a few other neighborhoods that have fallen from the top five this week, Alley Park and Tribeca has fallen out of the top five. Williamsburg is beating you guys, just saying…

 

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Romio’s Park Slope Directory

Posted by Romio on July 26, 2011
Featured Neighborhood, Park Slope / No Comments
Romio's Park Slope Directory

Here at Romio, we’re always on the lookout for the best and most engaging Twitter followers to connect with— we’re tech geeks that way. And after reading Park Slope Patch‘s article about the Social Media Rat Race (thanks, Kristen Brown!), we agree that Park Slope is leading the Twitter pack in Brooklyn. Heck, we’ve already met with lots of you guys out there. (That’s you, Denis Hurley, Justin Bazan, and Mark Caserta!

And we want to help you navigate the sometimes-confusing world of neighborhood interaction. So, we’ve created a social media directory of sorts for Park Slope businesses. As a local business, it’s hard, if not impossible, to reach out to customers on social media while running your business. We get that. You don’t have time to respond to every Twitter user who stops by your shop, and you definitely can’t troll Twitter searching for other like-minded local businesses.

Now, you don’t have to, because Romio’s done it for you.

Our directory of local businesses is listed below, and many of these guys are already using Romio to promote their business and connect with neighbors. What better way to use social media on a local level, right? With just one simple post, everyone in the area will know why they should come to you instead of Starbucks or Trader Joe’s — and other Romio users will get the chance to respond to it.

Of course, local businesses are sprouting up practically every day in Park Slope — that’s what makes you guys so great! If you’ve got anyone you’d like to add to this list, let us know here. We’ll double back and keep updating. (If you’re lucky, you might even get a little Follow Friday love too.)

 

@2minutes2dinner

 

@Babeland_NYC

@baluchis310

@BarkHotDogs

@barriobklyn

@beaconscloset

@BendandBloom

@BergenStComics

@bierkraft

@BogotaBistro

@BrooklynFitChik

 

@ChocolateRoomBK

@cafegrumpy

@ColsonPastries

@CommunityBkstr

@crespella

 

@dmaiUrbanSpa

 

@foodcoop

 

@goodfoodcheap

@gorillacoffee

@GrabFoods

 

 

@Kidville

 

@lioninthesun

 

@NaidresCafe

 

@parkslopeeye

@PSbklyn

 

@SageSpaBrooklyn

@slopesuds

@SouthpawBK

@StoneParkBK

 

@tarzianhardware

@tealoungeny

 

 

@unionmarket

 

@wickedspoon

 

@zora_space

 

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WiFi in Park Slope – Make it work, people!

Posted by Romio on July 14, 2011
Free WiFi, Park Slope / 1 Comment

From Park Slope PC

Romio is getting even closer to making free public WiFi in Park Slope a reality!

This week we had a chat with Dana Spiegel, Director of NYC Wireless, and he answered some of your most pressing questions. The first, and most frequently asked question about free WiFi is always, “Wait, is this really free?” And the answer, to that, neighbors, is YES. You’re not paying for WiFi through your tax dollars (read my lips, no new taxes!). Free WiFi networks work through a partnership between local businesses, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and big real estate companies.

Spiegel also cleared up our questions about the aesthetics of WiFi networks. Free WiFi doesn’t mean big, ugly metal towers in your neighborhoods. The WiFi routers are the size of a deck of playing cards. There will be no hideous towers, or ugly construction projects that will obstruct the Park Slope skyline.

Park Slopers, we’ve heard you’re also worried about free WiFi’s security. The truth is, a public WiFi network can only be so safe. I would not recommend doing your tax returns as you perch on a stoop on Fifth Ave, but surfing the web, going to your favorite Park Slope blogs, or sending a quick email is as safe as using your home network. How it works: when you log onto the public WiFi network in any neighborhood, your browser will open to the homepage where you will be asked to make an account with a username and password. This account then works on any of the NYC Wireless networks. So, if you’ve got a Park Slope account, it’ll also work if you need to check your Facebook while in DUMBO one day.

Convinced? Good. Now go sign up for a Romio account and tell us that you want free WiFi on Park Slope’s neighborhood page.

http://www.romio.com/city

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Five Neighborhoods Close to Unlocking

Posted by Romio on July 12, 2011
NYC Neighborhoods / No Comments

Here are the top five neighborhoods closest to unlocking! We are pretty excited about it here at the Romio office, so who ever signs up the most people gets a puppy!!! Okay, not really, but you will get the satisfaction of knowing that you can now talk with your whole neighborhood.

So here they are:

#1 SoHo is in first place with 30% unlocked

# 2 Alphabet City with a respectable 24%

#3 Chelsea with a decent 20%

#4 Astoria repping the outer boroughs with 16%

#5 Central Park with 12% (most of these users are woodland creatures).

 

Are you hyper competitive and desperately want your neighborhood to be unlocked next? Of course you are! Follow these two easy steps:

1. Tell everyone you know about Romio. Tell your friends, uncle, butcher, baker, and candlestick maker. Basically just tell everyone.

2. Get them to sign up.

That’s it, it’s as easy as that. So tell your friends about it and unlock your neighborhood.

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The Bicycle Thief in Park Slope

Posted by Romio on July 11, 2011
Park Slope, Uncategorized / No Comments

This may be the summer we’ll call The Park Slope Crime Wave.

Here’s proof: this Sunday on Park Slope’s 7th Avenue, a 5’10″ Hispanic male wearing a blue tank and jeans attempted to steal a delivery bike from Ocean Seafood around 3 PM. A restaurant employee tried to stop the thief, but was shoved out of the way — rude. “He backhanded her when she tried to stop him,” said Nico Pantelidis, who was passing by and who reported the incident to the police. Pantelidis and three restaurant employees tackled the thief and got him off the bike.

The thief still managed to escape, but Pantelidis followed him in his car and found him behind a trash can with a toolbox and clippers on 2nd Avenue and 6th Street. Below is a picture that Mr. Pantelidis took while following the thief in his car.

 

Have YOU seen this man? Let us know on our Park Slope Romio page!

 

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Park Slope Free WiFi

Posted by Romio on June 29, 2011
NYC Neighborhoods, Park Slope, Social Media Online Groups / 2 Comments

New York Times, Park Slope

Help Romio make Park Slope the next neighborhood with free public WiFi!

New York City and Brooklyn are making efforts to go cordless with free WiFi. DUMBO in Brooklyn was the first neighborhood to get WiFi (a project made possible by a partnership with the DUMBO business improvement district, Two Trees Management and NYC Wireless). Now Park Sloper’s want to be the next to get connected with free public WiFi.

Park Slope residents want to be able to open their laptops anywhere and share pictures with a friend, laugh at a video on YouTube, or shoot a quick email. Connecting with the neighborhood is what Romio is all about, which is why we have started a grassroots web campaign to work with neighbors to bring free public WiFi to Park Slope.

Joining the WiFi campaign is simple: sign up for a free account on Romio.com and join Park Slope’s conversation thread about WiFi. We’ll be updating the mayor’s office, local non-profit organizations, city council members and real estate firms daily with your questions, concerns and feedback.

If you’ve a Twitter or Facebook account, mention us @OfficialRomio or on facebook.com/theromio and put in the tag #LinkPS

Romio is a neighborhood social networking site where neighbors can talk about everything from city violations to a lost cat. At Romio, we believe connecting in neighborhoods is the first step to improving them.

So join the conversation, and help Park Slope stay connected.

 

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Romio’s inside scoop on Yoga studios on Upper West Side

Posted by Romio on June 13, 2011
NYC Neighborhoods, Uncategorized / 1 Comment

 

Cheapest Yoga – FREE

In Riverside Park

66th Street on the Greenway

The best yoga deals for Upper West Siders this summer are the free classes in Riverside Park. The Parks Department is now offering classes every Wednesday from 6PM – 7:30PM. The classes are suitable for all fitness levels, but make sure to bring your own mat (if you don’t have one, a beach towel will do). There’s no need to sign up — just arrive a little early for a spot up front.

 

Fanciest Yoga – $$$

204 W 77 St
New York, NY 10024

If you’re looking for a gorgeous environment to exercise in, Pure Yoga is the place for you. The staff is extremely helpful, and tries to give you as much one-on-one attention as possible. When you sign-up you’ll get a yoga advisor to assist you with any yoga-related questions. (Who knew this perk existed?) But you pay high prices for all this pampering: classes start at $145 a month.

 

Friendliest Yoga – $$

37 W 65th St
4th Fl
(between W Central Park & 65th St Transverse)
Known by Upper West Siders to be the friendliest yoga in the neighborhood, Yoga Works on 66th street will also give you a great workout. The patient and helpful teachers really know their yoga. Bonus: if you rent a mat it won’t smell like feet because the staff perfumes the mats in between uses. The classes will run you $22 per class, but if you plan on signing up for a membership your first class is covered.

 

Crunchiest Yoga – $

265 W 72nd St
2nd Fl
(between Broadway & West 72nd St)
New York, NY 10023

World Yoga Studio has been an Upper West Side staple for almost 40 years, and classes are challenging and reasonable at $17 a session. Since the studio has been around for so long, if you are under 30 and you weren’t at Woodstock, you may stick out.

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Romio’s picks for the weekend

Posted by Romio on June 03, 2011
Uncategorized / No Comments
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Friday, June 3rd

La Dolce Vita at Film Forum:

Showtimes, 1:00pm, 4:20pm, 7:40pm

Film Forum, 209 West Houston Street, New York, NY (map)

Kick off your weekend with a little decadence at Film Forum’s showing of Fredrico Fellini’s classic La Dolce Vita. Little known fact, if you bring a group of 12 or more you can get tickets at a senior citizens rate of $7 – otherwise it’s $12.50.

BY TERRY Makeovers at SPACE.NK.apothecary

10:00 am – 6:30 pm

SPACE.NK.apothecary, 968 Lexington Ave., New York,NY (map)

Ready to get your face made-up real pretty with fancy over priced products? Stop by SPACE.NK.apothecary on June 3rd to and get a FREE makeover! Added Bonus: Any attendee who purchases two BY TERRY products will receive BY TERRY flip flops as a gift.

 

Saturday, June 4th

4-year old Art Prodigy, Andrea Aelita, Debuts in NYC Solo Exhibition

11:00 am – 6:00 pm

Agora Gallery, 530 West 25th Street, New York City (map)

If you want to feel bad about how little you have accomplished in your life, stop by Chelsea’s Agora Gallery to see 4-year-old artist Aelita Andre in The Prodigy of Color, a solo exhibition. Scheduled to run from June 4, 2011 through June 25, 2011, the collection will display the depth and texture of Aelita’s unique works. At four years old, artist Aelita Andre is the youngest professional painter in the world.

Atlantic Avenue Artwalk

12pm – 6pm

Atlantic Ave between Brooklyn Bridge Park and Fourth Ave, Brooklyn (map)

At Atlantic Avenue Artwalk more than 200 Brooklyn artists will showcase their work along the Brooklyn thoroughfare. Festivalgoer’s can sneak a peek at the new home of experimental-music venue Roulette Brooklyn before it officially opens in September. Or scope out studio-printing powerhouse Axelle Fine Arts, and view crafts by a range of artists, including Kate Shepherd, Richard Prince and Cory Arcangel.

Come Hang Poolside

10:00 pm – 3:00 am

Grace Hotel, 125 West 45th Street, New York, NY (map)

Don’t want to risk swimming in the festering cesspools that are the public pools of NYC, but don’t want to pay? Come out to Grace Hotel from 10pm -3am for a late night swim. The 22-foot, heated, shallow pool with a swim-up bar is the Grace hotel’s crown jewel. If swimming isn’t your thing, lie back on a throw pillow and listen to the DJ.

 

Sunday, June 5th:

Housing Works Street Fair

10am -6pm

Crosby Street between Houston and Spring (map)

Come down to the cobbled streets of SoHo for Housing Works open air street fair outside their bookstore, café and clothing store on Crosby Street. Expect to find one dollar books, DVD’s, CD’s and other obsolete forms of technology. The real deal of the day is for $20 you can sift through a pile of Housing works vintage designer duds and fill a plastic bag filled with as much clothes as it can carry. If clothing isn’t your thing, then just relax and get some BBQ ($5-10) and some Brooklyn Brewery Beer ($5) and listen to Brooklyn bluegrass band the Woes. And there is no need to feel guilty about drinking in the afternoon, all proceeds go to support the organization’s advocacy and services to end homelessness and AIDS.

Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic

Sun, June 5,11:00 am – 5:30 pm

Governors Island (map)

Don a funny hat, and head off to Governors Island for the Veuve Clicquot polo match. The Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic will return to Governors Island for one of the most highly-anticipated events of the season, attracting a fashionable crowd from around the globe, and featuring the glamour and excitement of polo. This year, the majority of the playing field will be designated for members of the public, so there will be plenty of room for picnicking, drinking champagne and socializing. If you are hoping of snagging Prince Harry’s eye as he trots past on a polo pony, you are out of luck ladies Price Harry will not be making it this year.

 

 

Explore the East Village’s kitschiest Indian restaurants with Romio

Posted by Romio on June 02, 2011
NYC Neighborhoods / No Comments
A look at kitsch East Village Indian restaurants with Romio

 

The food at the three neighboring Indian restaurants the Panna II, Royal Bangladesh and Milon is good, but nowhere near as important as the décor. These three restaurants, located on 1st Avenue between 5th and 6th Street right next door to one another, are famous among East Village natives for their seizure inducing decorations and cramped interior. From the ceilings of each restaurant hangs hundreds of chili pepper lights, blown up beach balls, confetti, plastic flowers, children’s toys and who knows what else.

“This is the kind of restaurant you could only find in New York city,” said diner India Muinez, a Lower East Side native who has been patronizing the restaurants since she was in high school, “I love to take friends from out of town here, it’s such an experience.”

Choosing which of the three to dine at may be somewhat overwhelming. Each restaurant employs someone to stand outside and rapidly coax customers in their brightly colored doors. But in the summer time The Royal Bangladesh is a favorite among locals because of its outdoor seating area. Diners can sit outside under a canopy of printed rugs and twinkling lights on warm summer nights.

All three are famously BYOB and get pretty crowded around dinnertime when the twinkling lights look their best.

Rajib and Ali, twin brothers who work at Milion and the Panna II respectively, say that the inspiration for the decorations comes from their native Bangladesh. “In Bangladesh a lot of restaurants are decorated in this way,” said Ali.

Customers, such as Jon and Angie Hartzman who were enjoying a early dinner at Panna II, also felt at home in the sea of lights. “It’s just so kitschy that it just works,” said Angie.

Dinner will generally run you about $14 per person plus tip, and all three establishments only accept cash.

For more inside New York new visit Romio.

 

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